Composed of small cities, villages, and towns, Delaware offers a safe work and study environment for you. The state’s largest cities are Wilmington and Dover, with 71,000 people and 36,000 people respectively. The cost of living in Delaware, according to Sperling’s Best Places, is about 13% higher than the national average. However, the U.S. Census Bureau also reports that Delaware citizens enjoy a higher median income, higher home ownership rates, and higher rates of high school graduation.
Delaware is home to a sizable African-American population. Because of the different experiences and problems faced by minority groups, you should be prepared to learn about culturally-sensitive and evidence-based care.
Tuition and Admission Information for MSW Programs in Delaware
Delaware contains three schools with Master’s programs in social work. Tuition rates are considerably lower than they are in other New England states, with an average tuition cost of $9,576. The average acceptance rate in Delaware is 51%, so your undergraduate grades and activities will be an important part of your application.
What Will I Learn in a Delaware MSW Program?
While all Delaware schools cover social work policy, clinical care, and evidence-based care for families, some schools offer a concentration in these areas. The University of Delaware focuses on family studies and human development, while Wilmington University focuses on community and social psychology.
All programs in Delaware require you to have a Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a similar field to be accepted to their graduate program. However, if you have a Bachelor’s degree in social work, you may be eligible for Advanced Standing at Delaware State University. This allows you to complete your Master’s degree in one year.
Over the course of two years or four years, depending on your part-time or full-time status, you learn about how to provide mental health care to people of varying ages, backgrounds, and demographics. Furthermore, graduate-level coursework delves into the societal factors that cause individual problems. You’ll learn about how poverty, minority status, gender, and family upbringing affect mental health.
On top of your traditional courses, plan on completing approximately 1000 hours of clinical work. You’ll be overseen by your clinical site director at each location. Clinical hours start as early as your first semester, so you can build on your skills every semester.
Delaware MSW Career and Salary Information
Because a Master’s degree allows you to work in many different specialties, you have many employment options to consider after graduation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most social workers work for the government, healthcare organizations, or social assistance programs.
If you plan on earning Licensed Clinical Social Worker status after graduation, it’s important to select an employer that will allow you to complete your required supervised work hours. You should also plan on staying at the same place until you complete your supervised work hours to avoid delays.
In addition to government employers, some of the biggest social work employers in Delaware are Harbor Healthcare, New Behavioral Network, and the Gateway Foundation.
Delaware MSW Salary
Social work salaries vary widely depending on employer, your experience, and your job title. In general, O*Net reports that healthcare social workers are the highest paid social workers in Delaware. They report an average salary of $47,600 per year (O*Net, 2012). Close behind are mental health social workers, earning n average salary of $45,200 per year (O*Net, 2012). Child and family social workers earn an average salary of $37,400 per year (O*Net, 2012). If you earn LCSW status, your earning potential increases with the additional job duties you can take on.
Social Work Licensure in Delaware
After graduating from an accredited program, you can seek licensure through the Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners. Until you sit for your exam, you can work using a temporary license. Upon passing the exam, you become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) offers you more freedom in how and where you practice. To attain this status, completely 3,200 hours of social work hours after graduation. At least 50% of these hours must be supervised by a LCSW, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
As a Licensed Social Worker, you can provide evidence-based care to a variety of populations. As a result, the outlook for social work positions is very good. Positions for mental health social workers are expected to increase the most, at a rate of 21% through 2020 (O*Net, 2012). In the field of healthcare social work, positions are expected to increase by 17% between 2010 and 2020 (O*Net, 2012). Job openings for family social workers are predicted to increase by 15% in the same time frame (O*Net, 2012).
Master of Social Work Degree Programs in Delaware
(Dover, DE)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,506 Tuition Cost
- $4,902 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
(Newark, DE)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- $10,150 Tuition Cost
- $7,145 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
(New Castle, DE)
- Masters in Community and Social Psychology
- $9,660 Tuition Cost
- $1,837 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting